Friday, June 11, 2010

At a star-studded ceremony in Monte Carlo last night, CNN was awarded one of the highest honors in international journalism, a Golden Nymph, for its coverage of the earthquake in Haiti in the 24-hour news program category, beating BBC News, Sky News, France 24 and Russia Today. Video and more information after the jump. CNN International executive vice president and managing director Tony Maddox says, “This award comes as CNN marks 30 years of journalistic enterprise. Our coverage of Haiti stands out in CNN’s history of covering the stories that help shape our world. It is an honor to be recognized by our industry peers at this prestigious Festival.”

Within minutes of the Haiti earthquake, CNN began its unparalleled effort to cover the story. There was no hesitation. The main mission was to inform, and connect, the world. In the early hours, CNN covered this developing story in a transparent way: providing real-time updates on efforts to dispatch crews, monitoring social media, and contacting eyewitnesses.

Within 24 hours, even before most military and relief organizations arrived, CNN had eight reporting teams – 34 people – on the ground, with more on the way. Once on the scene, CNN quickly established itself as a vital missing link – helping worried relatives reach their loved ones in Haiti, while helping Haitians communicate word of their survival, their needs, and their despair.

The Golden Nymph accolade comes in the wake of an exceptional year for the international news channel. CNN revamped its schedule launching ten new European primetime programs; opened its fourth international production centre in Abu Dhabi; brought in-house the production of its award-winning documentary strand ‘World’s Untold Stories’; relaunched its international and domestic websites and introduced new graphics, music, studios, and a tagline 'Go Beyond Borders.'